According to promoter Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports, he is simply looking for a date at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to finalize the rematch between WBA featherweight world champions Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz, which should happen between April or May.
"We're just hoping to get a date in the Staples Center for the spring, either in April or May," said Schaefer to ESPN Deportes.
The two boxers were ordered to fight each other, because the World Boxing Association is motivated to downsize the number of WBA champions in each weight class. Mares is the WBA's "reagular" champion at the weight, while Santa Cruz is the "super" champion at 126-pounds. And Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico is the WBA's interim champion, also at 126-pounds.
The Mexicans rivals have already collided back in 2015, in of the better fights that year - also at the Staples Center.
On that occasion, Santa Cruz walked away with a twelve round majority decision victory to hand Mares his second defeat as a professional after being knocked out by Jhonny Gonzalez two years earlier.
There was supposed to be a rematch between the two boxers in 2017 and they even had an agreement to make the fight in the second half of the year, but the fight name took place. Sanat Cruz's father wanted his son to take an interim-fight, after winning a close decision in a rematch with Carl Frampton in January.
The two boxers took part in a doubleheader in the fall, with Santa Cruz stopping Chris Avalos and Mares defeating Andres Gutierrez.
Schaefer also revealed some updates regarding his Olympians. Misael Rodriguez, Lindolfo Delgado and Karlos Balkderas are on the agenda for the month of February. On the one hand, Misael and Lindolfo would fight on February 17 in Mexico, possibly on the back of a card featuring Miguel 'Mickey' Román, while Balderas would join the card on February 10 in San Antonio where junior welterweights Sergey Lipinets and Mikey Garcia will battle for the super lightweight belt of the International Boxing Federation.
armageto wrote: ↑05 Jan 2018, 11:34
I have zero interest in this fight. Their first fight was ok, a clear winner, and I expect a similar fight to the first.
Why have they built this up as if it's some highly anticipated rematch? Does anyone really care about it? I mean, it should be a good fight but LSC in particular wasted most of 2017 after getting a big win over Frampton seemingly to build up a rematch that I can't imagine many people would have on their 2018 wishlist.
first fight was good but nothing special. had a clear winner, santa cruz like 8-4. dont like going over old ground unless it was very very close/controversial. santa cruz wins again, as he prob will, and it really does nothing at all for his resume or legacy. thats not a sign of a fight thats truly needed or big aside from any abc going ons.
SenorPipino wrote: ↑05 Jan 2018, 13:44
Two rugged honest warriors going at it. Reminiscent of those memorable L.A. area rivalries of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Their first go around was terrific. The rematch figures to be just as exciting.
If you love boxing I can't imagine why you wouldn't be eager to see these two Latino battlers, collide head to head again.
I don't think people have a problem with the fight itself per se, more the fact that the build up has taken a year out of both of their careers when a rematch could surely have happened last summer and they could both have moved on to other big fights by now.
I think the rematch is more interesting. Mares has been looking great under the Garcia camp. Dude just got that dominant win over Gutierrez and looked the best he's looked at FW since his win over PDL. I think Mares needed building up. I remember people thought he'd struggle against Cuellar, and even I didn't think he'd handle the bigger Gutierrez so easily.
ya, you sure whine and moan and bitch when ppl arent over the moon with a fight and simply say theyre not excited for it. you should bump the berchelt-mijares thread so you can throw another tantrum
gutirrez is nothing btw. not one win over anyone remotely near world class.you sure are easily swayed by record padding and win streaks over nobodies
armageto wrote: ↑05 Jan 2018, 11:34
I have zero interest in this fight. Their first fight was ok, a clear winner, and I expect a similar fight to the first.
Yeah I'm pretty much in the same camp. I like both fighters, but there's just no real interest here because we've seen this movie before, and I agree the chances are high this one plays out very similar to the first fight.
jamamb wrote: ↑05 Jan 2018, 23:27
ya, you sure whine and moan and bitch when ppl arent over the moon with a fight and simply say theyre not excited for it. you should bump the berchelt-mijares thread so you can throw another tantrum
gutirrez is nothing btw. not one win over anyone remotely near world class.you sure are easily swayed by record padding and win streaks over nobodies
You obviously don't really follow the sport. It's fine, though. Lots of people on BoxRec don't know what they're talking about. I'm also not throwing a tantrum. I'm just pointing out truths and facts, and they've obviously hurt your feelings that you feel you have to follow me around and memorize old posts of mine.
Should have been last October but Santa Cruz ducked the fight and should have been stripped of his title because of it. With it being PBC probably be in June and their only fight of 2018
